North West MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa is concerned that miscommunication has resulted in delay in presentation of the 2007/08 provincial crime statistics analysis report to the provincial legislature Portfolio Committee on Public Safety.
According to MEC Yawa, the statement issued by Democratic Alliance provincial leader in the North West, Chris Hattingh on Thursday regarding the matter is misleading and devoid of truth and yet another ploy by the Democratic Alliance to sow division within the ranks of elected public representatives and within the ranks of the police service.
“Grandstanding to an audience that is fully aware that the report was made public on 16 October 2009 to provincial stakeholders will only serve to expose Hattingh’s usual theatrics and obsession to project the ANC government and in this instance police management in a negative light.” says MEC Yawa.
MEC Yawa has dismissed Hattingh’s assertion that police are reluctant to account the report and undermine the portfolio committee as devoid of truth. The media statement issued by Hattingh in the name of his political party does not acknowledge that the initial briefing meeting was not part of the portfolio committee programme but proposed for Tuesday, 20 October 2009 by MEC Yawa in the letter addressed to the portfolio committee dated 19 October 2009.
It also does not mention that MEC Yawa and police management availed themselves to brief the portfolio committee on the 12 November 2009 but due to miscommunication, the briefing could not be proceeded with as most members of the portfolio committee were unavailable. Hattingh for some inexplicable reasons also omits to mention that the briefing to the portfolio committee was also postponed by the committee at the eleventh hour on 18 November 2009.
MEC Yawa wishes to assure the people of the North West that the Department of Public Safety and police management will always respect and strive to account to the leadership collective of elected public representatives that constitute the Portfolio Committee on Public Safety. In order to assist the accountability process, Yawa appeals to all parties to take responsibility for the miscommunication of dates for the long overdue briefing and last minute cancellation of scheduled meetings.
Contrary to Chris Hattingh’s statement that North West South African Police Service (SAPS) has failed to submit its 2008/09 annual report to the North West provincial legislature by 30 September 2009, North West SAPS has until 30 November 2009 to table the report.
The MEC expects the leadership collective of the portfolio committee to exercise its oversight role over the department and the police responsibly and in accordance with the constitution and not to resort to grandstanding and rumour mongering in order to demoralise and sow division within the ranks of the police service by raising unsubstantiated allegations of “questionable appointments and promotions”.
MEC Yawa has cautioned Chris Hattingh to refrain from making outrageous and blanket statements that suggest that elements in the North West SAPS are involved in illegal political activities including the surveillance of politicians. Yawa has challenged Hattingh to name the said police officials and provide us with evidence in this regard for the allegation to be investigated.
“I should stress however that we are not going to be sent on a wild goose chase by rumour mongering to which Chris Hattingh subscribes. Our focus is on working with our communities to win the war against crime and not even Chris Hattingh is going to derail us from that course,” Yawa emphasised.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 381 9123
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
